lipsey



(NOC-Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. B. LIPSEY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 280,194. Patented June 26, 138s.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. B. LIPSEY.

ROTARY ENGINE. N0.`280,194. Patented. June 26, 1883.

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e UNITED STATES- PATENT" OFFICE.

ANDREW B. LIPSEY, OF VES'I HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VLLLIAMBELL, OF NEV YORK, N. Y... 7

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.l 280,194, dated June26, 1883.

i Application filed June 10,1882. (Nomodel.) i

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW B. LiPsnY, of West Hoboken, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Rotary Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

rotate with the cylinder, hollow journals pro` jecting from said rotarycylinder and surrounding` said shaft or arms, bearings or supports forsaid shaft or arms, and bearings wherein said hollow journals may turn,arranged between the first-mentioned bearings.

The improvement also consists in aV novel4 construction of packingemployed to prevent leakage between the said shaft and said annularjournals, and in details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter described.

Certain other features of my improvement are applicable not only torotary engines of the kind above described, wherein the outer cylinderis adapted to rotate, but also to rotary engines of the ordinary kind,in which a rotary piston-head carrying a sliding piston or pistons isarranged eccentrically within a stationary cylind er; and such featuresconsist in the combinatiomin a rotary engine, with a cylindricstationary part and a eylindric rotary part eecentricto each other, andtwo or more sliding pistons in said rotary part, of springs consistingof circular hoops or bands applied to said pistons to cause them to worktightly on the part in contact with which theyunove; these spring hoopsor bands hold the pistons tightly against the part on which they work,and as the surface on which they bear is atrue cylin drie surface, thesprings are not changed in form as the engine rotates, but are simplychanged in position; also, in the combination, in a rotary engine, of aninner stationary hub, an outer rotary cylinderV carrying a slidingpiston or pistons and arranged eccentrically to said hub, a stationarysleeve surrounding said hub, and in contact with which said cylinderrotates,

spending parts in all the figures.

and a spring or springs between said hub and sleeve, for holdingthelatter in contact with the cylinder; also, in the combination, with arotary engine provided with passages for the ingress and egress ofsteam, of a valve adapted to be adjusted so as to4 admit steam at thesame time to both passages to hold the engine against movement, wherebythe engine is particularly adapted for hoisting and analogous purposes,and also in a novel construction of packing for a rotary engine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal sectionof an engine embodying my improvement, and in which the cylinder isadapted to rotate. Fio. 2 represents a transverseseetion on the dottedline ma, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents atransverse section of a portion ofthe engine on th-e dotted line y y, Fig. l. i Fig. @t represents atransverse section on the line z z, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents alongitudinal section of an engine embodying in which the cylinder isstationary. Fig. 6 represents an irregular transverse section on thedotted line xx, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a horizontal section ofaportion of the engine and its valve upon the dotted liney y, Fig. 5.Figs. tail views ofthe packing employed, and Fio. 10 represents atransverse section of the engine on the dotted lines z z, Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference designate correl Referring first to Figs. 1to 4, inclusive, A designates the center hub or stationary part of myimprovement,

'the engine, which is formed in one casting 4with a stationary shaft,A', it being eccentric thereto, and the said shaft is supported inbearings ay in a frame, A2.

B designates the cylinder ofthe engine, which is concentric with theshaft A', and is therefore eccentric to the hub or stationary part A.The cylinder is closed on each side or end by heads B', which areprovided with hollow journals B2, that surround the stationary shaft A',and are adapted to rotate in suitable bearings, b.

In order to prevent leakage of steam outward between the shaft A' andthe inner surface of the hollow journals, I employ a packing at theend'of each j ournalBl. This pack- 8 and 9 represent de-l IOO .ing mayconsist of a ring or collar, C, surrounding theshaft A and bearingagainst the end of the journal B2, and a cupshaped or recessed collar,C', into which the ring or collar C fits, and which may be set up by anut, C?, screwed upon the shaft A', so as to press the ring or collar Cagainst the end of the journal. Springs c are inserted betweentherecessed collar C and the ring or collar G, so as to take up `wearand-maintain a steam-tight `joint between the ring or collar and the endofthe journal.

The cylinder B, being adapted to rotate, may receive ya belt on itsperiphery to transmit power from it 5 but I prefer to attach a pulley,D, to the periphery of the cylinder, so as to leave an air-space, D',between it and the cylinder. This pulley may be cast in two sections, ashere represented, and be provided with lugs or ears d, through whichbolts are inserted for securing it to the cylinder, and a packing, zZ',ofasbestus or analogous non-condui'cting` material, may be placedbetween the cylinder and the lugs or ears (Z, to prevent the pulley frombecoming unduly heated. The airspace D', between the cylinder andthe pulley, will serve to keep the pulley cool and prevent injury to the lbeltby heat.

E designates a circular sleeve, which surrounds the hub A, and isprovided with ribs or tongues e, which enter corresponding recesses inthe said hub, and thereby hold the sleeve stationary. Springs c arearranged in one of the recesses in the hub A and back of.

the tongue or rib e, fitting therein, and these springs serve to pressthe sleeve E against the inner surface of the cylinder, and to take upwear, so that there shall be no leakage nof steam between the sleeve andcylinder at that point. This sleeve constitutes a stationary cylindriepart of the engine.

F designates the pistons, of which two are elnployed, but which may bemore in number, and which are adapted to slide radially in suitablerecesses or grooves, F', in the rotary cylinder B, and which are adaptedto bear continuously upon the periphery of the sleeve E; and as saidsleeve is eccentric to the cylin der the pistons are caused to moveradially as they pass over the periphery of said sleeve. The pistons Fare here represented as having removable packing-pieces or tongues f,which are circular in shape, except where they bear against theperiphery of the sleeve E, and are iitted in correspondingly-shapedgrooves or.

recesses in the ends of the pistons, and the pistons are packed at the-sides by pieces f', inserted into grooves in the walls of the recessesF', in which the pistons work, as best shown in Fig. 2.

In order to keep the pistons F tightly pressed against the sleeve E, Iemploy springs consisting of circular hoops or bands G, which are placedover the ends of the pistons, as shown clearly in Fig. l, and in dottedoutline in Fig. 2, and the pistons are represented as shouldered orreduced in width at g, at the ends, so as to receive the springs. Thespring hoops or bands may be made circular and of such size that theymust be pressed into an oval form to apply them to the pistons, and theconstant tendency of the springs to assume a circular form will keepthem pressed against the sleeve E with .proper force. As the sleeve E,on which the pistons F work, is perfectly cylindric, the springs are notchanged in shape or distorted as the pistons rotate, but are sim plychanged in position, and hence are much more durable than they would beif the surface over which the pistons work were not perfectly cylindric.

In order to prevent the leakage of steam past the ends of the piston, Iemploy packings at each end, consisting of an annular plate, H, whichfits in a' recess in the head B', and two bars, H', which are iitted ingrooves ZZ in said annular plate, and in corresponding grooves, h', inthe inner surface ofthe head l?'. The bars H are opposite the ends ofthe pistons F, and the pistons slide on them as they move radiallyinward and outward. The plate H is pressed toward the pistons by meansof springs 1', inserted between them and the head B', and the bars areheld against the pistons by springs i', inserted in the grooves ZZ L,behind said bars. The arrangement of the bars H will be betterunderstood by reference to Fig. 4.

I will now describe how steam is admitted to the engine. The hub andshaft A A' are hollow, and are divided by a longitudinal partition, j,which forms two distinct passages, 7c Z.

I designates a valve-chest, which forms part of one of the bearings a,and which is connected with ports 7c' Z', which communicate with thepassages 7c Z, as shown in Fig. 8, and with an exhaust-port, k2.

I' designates the steam-pipe through. which steam isv admitted, and I2designates a slidevalve, which controls the passage of steam to theports k Z', and which may be set or adjusted by a lever, Z2, so as toadmit steam to one port and provide for the exhaust through the otherport and to the exhaust-port Zug.

It will be observed that the valve I2 is shorter than the distancebetween the outsides of the ports L Z, and hence, when the valveis'adjusted to its middle position, steam will be admitted to both portsk Z, and the engine may be held by the steam against movement in eitherdirection. This is advantageous for hoisting and other purposes, as itenables a load to be h'eld without the use of a brake.

Referring to Fig. 2, let it be supposed that the valve is adjusted sothat steam can enter through the passage Zn and exhaust through thepassage Z. The hub A is provided on one side of the partitionj with twoports, k, and on the other side with two ports, Z, but, if de sirable, asingle port, or more than two ports, may be provided on each side of thepartition. The steam, entering through the passage Zr,

-issues into the cylinder through the ports 7d",

and, acting upon the pistons F, drives the cylinderB in the direction ofthe arrows, and

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2s0,194 y l s is then exhausted through the ports ls'into the passage l.In Fig. 2 the pistons are shown in the positions which they will occupywhen the steam is acting with its maximum force on one c 5 piston whilethe other is inoperative.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, J designates the stationarycasing of the engine, which is mounted on supports J andK designatesthefcylinder which constitutes the stationary part of this engine, andis provided with an upwardly-extending arm or stem, K, which passesthrough a stuffing-box, J 2, in the top of the casing J. The arm orstemK is t dividedby a partition, j, into two distinct passages, 7c Z,the lower ends of which are continued around the cylinder K, andterminate in ingress and egress ports 7c3 l. (Shown in Fig. 6.) To theupper end of the said arm or stem K is secured a valve-chest, I, towhich steam 2O is admitted by a pipe, I, and which is conagainst theinner surface of the cylinder K, and

are pressed outward, with sufficient force to prevent leakage, by springhoops or bands G, like those before described, except that they are hereapplied between the pistons to force 3 5 them apart instead of outsideof or embracing them to bring them together, as in the previous exampleof my invention.

I have describedthe cylinderK as stationary, which is true in the sensethat it is non-rotary,

but the cylinder may have a slightv movement upward and downward, thestem K being free to slide in the stuffing-box J2.

i In order to take up wear and prevent leakage between the cylinder andthe top of the piston-head'L, Iemploy a spring, m, applied to a stem,m', which passes through the casing J, and is screwed into the cylinder,as best shown in Fig. 5. The spring my is applied to the stem m, betweena stuffing-box in the outer 5o casing J and a nut or collar on saidstem, as

best shown in Fig. 5; and as the said stuffingboX, or the gland thereof,forms a fixed abutment for one end of the spring m, its resilience,acting on the nut or collar on the stem m', tends 5 5 to draw down thecylinder K, and holds the upper part of its interior surface tightlypressed against the upper part of the exterior surface .of thepiston-head L. The stem m may be hollow, as shown, and may then serve asa 6o drip pipe through which the water of condene sation is delivered,under controly of a valve. (Not shown.)

v It will be seen that the piston-head L and the cylinder K constitutetwo circular partsy eccentric to each other, and having a bearing oneach other at one point in their eircumference. The spring mr has noother function than to hold the cylinder or stationary part tightlyagainst the top of the piston-head or rotary part.

.At each end of the cylinder K is a packing, consisting of a plate, M,secured to the end of the piston-head L and rotating with it, a ring, N,placed between said plate and the cylinder, and bars H', which fit ingrooves 71 in the inner face of the plate M and in slots or recesses ain the ring N. (Best shown in Figs. S and 9.) The bars H are placed atthe ends of the pistons F, so that the latterwork upon them in theirradial movement, and through said bars the ring N is locked to the plateM, so as' to rotate therewith and upon the end of the cylinder K. Thebars I-I are pressed tightly against the ends of the pistons by. springsfi, placed in the bottoms of the grooves h, and the ring N is pressedagainst the end of the cylinder by springs interposed between it and theplate M. .y

In order to prevent leakage, the easing J, around the cylinder K, may bekept filled with steam admitted through a pipe, o.

The shaft L passes through stuffing-boxes O at the ends of the casing J,and the gland O of each stuffing-box may be made in several sections, asshown in Fig. 10, each of which has atongue, p, fitting in a groove in astuffing-box, so that it cannot turn with the shaft. The sections of theglands O may be set up independently of each other by means of set`screws p, so as to compensate for wear, and at their inner ends is acontinuous ring, p2, which is adapted to bear upon the packing.

It will be seen that in both engines herein described I employ springsof the same construction `applied to the pistons, avalve of the IOO sameconstruction for controlling the ingress It will also be seen that inthe form of engine shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4 the sleeveE constitutes the stationary part, and is pressed against the rotary cylinderB' by springs e',

while in the form of engine shown in the remaining figures the cylinderK constitutes the stationary part, and is pressed against the pis- IIOton-head L', which constitutes the rotary part, l

by a spring, m.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylindric stationary hubprovided with a non-rotary shaft or arms, an outer rotary cylindercarrying a radially-sliding piston or pistons adapted to work upon thestationary hub as they rotate with the cylinder, hollow journalsprojecting from said rotary cylinder and surrounding said shaft or arms,bearings or supports for said shaft or arms, and bearings wherein saidhollow journals may turn, ar-

ranged between the rst-mentioned bearings, substantially as hereindescribed.

2. The combination ofthe stationary hub A and its shaft or arms A, therotary cylinder with the hollow journals BZ, the bearings t b for saidsl'la'ft or arms and said journals, the sliding pistons I?, and thepackings, each composed of the ring or collar C, thc recessed collar C,the nut G2, and springs c, substantially as herein described. l

3. In a rotary engine, the combination ot' an inner stationary hub and ashai't or arms therefor, both of which are hollow and constructed with apartition forming separate passages, a valve for controlling the ingressand egressv of steam through said passages, an outer cylinder eccentricto said hub and adapted to rotate, and a sliding piston or pistons insaid cylinder, substantially as herein described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination, with a cylindric stationary partand a cylindric rotary part eccentric to each other, and two or moresliding pistons in said rotary part, adapted to work upon the cylindricsurface of said stationary part, ot' springs consisting of circularhoops or bands applied to sai d pistons, to cause them to work tightlyon the part in contact with which they more, substantially as hereindescribed.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination oi' an inner stationary hub, anouter cylinder eccentric thereto and adapted to rotate, two or moresliding pistons, and springs consisting of eircular hoops or bandsembracing said pistons and causing them to work tightly against saidstationary hub, substantially as herein described.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a stationary hub, an outercylinder eccentric thereto, carrying a sliding piston or pistons, andadapted to rotate, a stationary sleeve surrounding said hub, and incontact with which said cylinder rotates, and a spring or springsbetween said hub and sleeve, for holding the latter against thecylinder, substantially as herein described.

7. The combination, with a rotary engine provided with passages for theingress and egress of steam, of a valve adapted to be adjusted so as toadmit steam at the same time to both passages, so as to hold the engineagainst movement in either direction, substantially as herein described.

- 8. In a rotary engine, the combination ot a rotary partcarrying asliding piston or pistons, packing-plates at the ends of the piston orpistons, and bars fitting in radial grooves in said plates and againstthe ends of the piston or pistons, substantially as herein described.

' ANDREW' B. LIPSEY. lVitnesses T. J. KEANE, CHANDLER HALL.

